The Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that Alex Batty (17), a British teenager who vanished when he was 11 and was recently located in France after his six-year disappearance, has now returned to the United Kingdom.
In 2017, Alex, together with his mother and grandfather, disappeared while they were vacationing in Spain. The 17-year-old is not under the parental guardianship of his mother, and her current location remains unclear.
The police stated during a press conference that they had not yet determined the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. They also have not yet determined whether a criminal investigation will be conducted.
Alex was discovered on Wednesday by a motorist, who observed him on a road on the lower slopes of the French Pyrenees, near Toulouse. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle stated that his team has not yet determined if there would be a criminal inquiry.
GMP Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle stated during a news conference on Saturday night that Alex was received at Toulouse airport by a relative and officers who had received specialised training. After that, a plane flew Alex back to the UK.
“Undoubtedly, this moment held immense significance for him and his loved ones, and we are pleased that they have finally been able to reunite after such a prolonged period of separation.”
GMP stated that due to the absence of formal declarations from Alex, it is unable to provide any comments regarding the specific activities reported by French authorities during his period of disappearance.
“The progress of this case and the decision to initiate a criminal investigation will ultimately depend on the pace of conversation that is comfortable for him,” ACC Boyle stated. “We have not yet completely determined the details surrounding his disappearance.”
Alex is thought to have adopted a nomadic way of life, residing in spiritual communities alongside his mother and grandfather over the previous few years.
On September 30, 2017, Melanie and David Batty departed from Greater Manchester with Alex for a prearranged week-long vacation in Marbella, Spain. He was last observed in the Port of Malaga on 8 October of that year, which coincided with the anticipated date of their return to the UK.
Since then, it is known that Alex resided in the secluded Pyrenean valleys, moving from one location to another as part of a nomadic community. The region situated at the base of the Pyrenees mountain range is renowned for its ability to draw individuals seeking unconventional ways of living.
Inhabitants of the little village of La Bastide in the Pyrenees have reported that Alex had been intermittently residing at a hotel for the previous two years.
French officials, have confirmed he made the decision to depart when his mother expressed her desire to travel to Finland. Alex is supposed to have traversed the rugged topography of southern France for four days before being discovered by a nocturnal delivery driver.
According to the driver, Fabien Accidini, he let the boy borrow his phone and utilise his Facebook account to communicate with his grandmother, Susan Caruana. “I am extremely relieved and happy to announce that Alex has been located in a safe and healthy condition,” she stated in a news release published by the police on Friday.
She expressed her delight in hearing his voice and seeing his face once more. To ensure maximum comfort upon his homecoming, she asked for privacy for the family.
